NYT > Your Money Housing Woes Bring a New Cry: Let the Market Fall Some economists and analysts urge a dose of shock therapy that would shift benefits to future homeowners from current ones: Let the housing market crash. New Program for Buyers, With No Money Down Fannie Mae is getting back in the market for mortgages with no down payment, available to new home buyers in four states. Study Shows Drop in Credit Card Use Consumers are using credit cards less than in the past, according to data just released from Javelin Strategy and Research. How Much to Put in an Emergency Fund New research from MetLife provides some guidance on how much to include in your emergency fund to cover the chance of a critical illness in your family. Wednesday Reading: Optimism and Job Searches On whether it pays to be optimistic in a job hunt, new rankings from Consumer Reports and other consumer-focused items from Wednesday's Times. More Evidence for Store Brands Some store brands are as good as or better than some name-brand grocery items, according to a new Consumer Reports study. Obama Is Against a Compromise on Bush Tax Cuts The president’s decision not to extend tax cuts for the rich adds a populist twist to an economic package designed to entice support from big businesses and their Republican allies. Mortgages: As Pay Falls, Borrowers Lose Ground One in eight homeowners had household debt exceeding half the monthly income in 2008, a recent report says. Your Money: How Debt Can Destroy a Budding Relationship Because one person’s debt becomes a shared responsibility in marriage, when do you reveal a substantial liability? Patient Money: Food Safety Tips for the Budget-Conscious Safety experts have advice on ways to germ-proof your food, and still save money. App Smart: How to Get Loyalty Card Prices Without Loyalty Cards Two apps, Cardstar and Key Ring, serve as repositories for your loyalty shopping card numbers. You just hand your phone to the cashier at checkout. Home Is Where the Tax Exemption Is As tax authorities look for cheats, they are finding that many people who are eligible for the benefit fail to apply for it. Your Money: In Defense of Home Ownership Many home purchases could still end in grief financially, particularly in hard-hit areas. But most probably won’t. Patient Money: High-Deductible Plans Grow, but Not Everyone Should Get on Board More workers are being urged to enroll in plans linked to health savings accounts. Some new rules, however, could be deterrents. Housing Market Plunged in July, Fueling Anxiety Housing sales fell a surprising 25.5 percent in July below the level of a year ago, as buyers lost the spur of a government tax credit. Housing Fades as a Means to Build Wealth, Analysts Say Many economists believe that the days of banking on an asset that could only rise in value are gone for good. The Haggler: Enough, Already! One Consumer’s Pet Peeves It’s the little things — a long list of them — that can most frustrate today’s consumer. Fundamentally: Betting on Growth While Playing Defense While investors have rushed to the safety of Treasury securities, risky sectors like junk bonds and emerging-market stocks have also done well this year. Digital Domain: $9 Here, 20 Cents There and a Credit-Card Lawsuit The Federal Trade Commission alleges in a civil case that scammers placed more than $10 million in small, bogus charges on consumers’ credit and debit cards. Mortgages: New Online Help From Fannie Mae A new Web site for struggling borrowers has information in two languages, and explanatory videos. Practical Traveler: Weighing the Pros and Cons of Spirit Airlines The airfares from Spirit are cheap, but does that make up for the inconveniences? Your Money: How to Be Frugal and Still Be Asked on Dates There are ways to broadcast your financial values without coming off as a tightwad or a gold digger. Patient Money: Birth Control Doesn’t Have to Mean the Pill Alternatives to the popular pill, like intrauterine devices, hormonal implants or injections, may be more convenient, more effective and cheaper in the long run. U.S. Mortgage Relief Effort Is Falling Short of Its Goal The pool of candidates is shrinking rapidly, and new trial modifications were down sharply in July. Pension Fraud in New Jersey Puts Focus on Illinois Cities and states are scrambling to make sure their pension disclosures are in order, and investors in distressed debt are scrambling, sensing opportunity. Steps to Prevent Identity Theft, and What to Do if It Happens Quick action is needed if an unusual charge shows up on a credit card statement or a thief opens an account in your name. Life and Disability Insurance: What You Need to Know What sort of insurance you need in the event of untimely death or disability depends on what your objectives are. Health Insurance: What You Need to Know With Americans spending an ever increasing amount on medical costs, it’s more important than ever to have insurance that fits your health care needs. 401(k)’s: What You Need to Know For many people, saving for retirement means squirreling away as much as possible through employer-provided plans, the most popular being the 401(k). About Financial Planners: What You Need to Know If you’ve landed here, it means you’ve realized that you might need some professional advice in handling your financial affairs. Annuities: What You Need to Know Annuities are a basic staple of modern portfolios, the financial equivalent of a backstop to guarantee a minimum of income in retirement. Credit Scores: What You Need to Know You may not have checked your credit score lately, but there’s a good chance someone else has. Wealth Matters: The Art of Thinking Clearly Under Great Pressure Through no fault of his own, Frederick Peters arrived in a financial crisis threatening his business. He survived by avoiding distractions and focusing on the problem. Special Report: Net Worth: Estate Planning Step 1: Recognize You Are Going to Die Estate planning is less a matter of how much you have than where it is and how and to whom it will be transferred when the time comes. The Way We Live Now: Paralyzed by Debt Almost two years after the crash, Americans are still paying off credit-card balances and home-equity lines. Net-Worth Obsession We all wonder how much money others have. Joey Kincer and other net-worth trackers are letting us in on the secret.